"This is my cousin''s waiting room. She''s the lead dancer, so she gets special treatment. Everything here is just for her! Besides that, she also..." Matthew was bursting with pride as he rambled on about his cousin.


    Uninterested, I tuned him out and started scrolling through my social media.


    I saw that Lina had posted a photo of the stray dog. She seemed to have grown closer to it. At least, she was close enough to get the photo taken.


    I liked her post and immediately received a message from her.


    "William, did you hear that Joshua''s returning to uni?"


    I was taken aback. "What? Since when?"


    "Just this noon. I ran into him on campus and asked him for the money he owed me. That''s when he told me that he''s resuming sses in a few days, though he won''t be staying in the dorms."


    So, he was returning to sses, huh? Why had he stopped living hisfortable life as someone''s boy toy? Had that wealthy woman dumped him?


    Joshua was nothing more than a clown to me, and I couldn''t care less about him. Yet, knowing how much he detested me, I couldn''t help wondering if he''d start causing trouble for me again after returning.


    Just as I was mulling it over, cheerful chatter came from outside. Momentster, several girls in dance costumes walked in.


    "Matthew!"


    The tallest and most striking woman dashed into Matthew''s arms, her face brimming with joy.


    "I thought you weren''ting today!"


    Matthew hugged her back, grinning. "How could I miss your final performance?"


    "You''re always busy with your girlfriend and can never make time for me. How was I supposed to know if you coulde?"


    "That''s not true. I spend plenty of time with you."


    "Don''t lie! The time you spend with me doesn''t evene close to the time you spend with your girlfriend!"


    She pouted but stayed in his arms without trying to move away.


    Simrly, Matthew made no effort to push her away. Instead, he hugged herfortably and kept coaxing her.


    Seeing this, even Benjamin and Liam exchanged knowing nces. We were all certain something was going on between them.


    When would cousins behave in this way?


    Soundsides, the way she spoke


    sounded just like a jealous girlfriend. Yet, the other dancers seemed


    unfazed as they carried on chatting.


    l.ne


    Matthew finally led his cousin over to introduce us. "These are my roommates I told you about-Liam Harper, Benjamin Carter, and William White."


    His cousin perked up at the mention of my name. "You''re William White? I''ve heard so much about you!"


    Oh really? I shot a re at Matthew, who blushed. "I-I didn''t say anything bad! Just good things!"


    I was sure he''d shared all my


    embarrassing stories. After all, that''s how guys were. They''d happily use their friends'' misfortunes to make themselves look better in front of women.


    The longer I interacted with this cousin of his, the less I liked her. Poor Isabelle.


    "Matthew, my zipper felt weird during my earlier performance. Help me check it out!"


    With that, she dragged Matthew into the dressing room.